Wins lift Flyers as they take on Devils

Fife Flyers travel to high-flying Cardiff Devils on Saturday boosted by back-to-back wins.

The Kirkcaldy club have now squeezed into the Elite Ice Hockey League top eight, which guarantees a play-off spot after their 3-1 win at bottom club Nottingham Panthers on Tuesday.

A crucial factor was scoring to level at 1-1 37 seconds after Panthers had opened their account.

Head coach Tom Coolen said: “It was a big couple of points and we needed them.

“The hour-glass is starting to run a little quicker for us so to come on the road and to get these two points in a building that has not been easy for us is a big plus.

“The first period was bang, bang – they scored, then we scored and it definitely gave us a push as we were not chasing for too long.”

The victory, their third in four games after a 7-6 overtime success at Braehead against Glasgow Clan, a 7-6 overtime defeat at home to Clan, a 5-2 win at home to Coventry Blaze on Saturday, sets them up for the Cardiff trip which sees the Welsh side boosted by a 6-2 home win over Nottingham last Saturday.

Coolen said: “It is a great boost for our organisation (to be in the top eight and in a play-off spot).

“We just got to keep plugging away. Yes, it is a boost to be in a playoff position, but you have to stay there.”

Jonathan Paredes, Coolen’s opposite number, said the result was a huge disappointment for him and his Panthers.

French-born Paredes said the squad pushed in the second period but the 42-year-old, who previously worked in the French national team’s junior programme, added: “You cannot start a game like this. Our first 20 was not good at all.”